Abstract: A bypass plunger includes a unibody, or one-piece hollow body and valve cage, retains a dart valve within the valve cage portion using a threaded retaining nut secured by crimple detents, and includes sealable flow parts. A series of helical grooves surround the central portion of the outer surface of the hollow body of the plunger to control spin during descent. A canted-coil-spring disposed within the retaining nut functions as a clutch. The valve cage includes ports that may be configured to control flow through the plunger during descent. Other embodiments include clutch assemblies using canted-coil springs with split bobbins, and surfaced valve stems surfaced.

Abstract: A method for capturing a sample from a wellbore, comprising the steps of introducing a first message and a second message into a tubing positioned within the wellbore. The first message is directed to a first modem connected to a first sampler device to cause the first sampler device to collect a first sample. The second message is directed to a second modem connected to a second sampler device to cause the second sampler device to collect a second sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allowing intervention into a wellbore with a valve assembly that can be selectively opened and closed. An intervention work string has a multi-cycle open/close valve assembly which can be selectively opened to perform intervention tasks in the wellbore.

Abstract: Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed a sand control device cleaning system that can be disposed in a wellbore through a fluid-producing formation. The sand control device cleaning system can include a housing and a fluid communication structure. The housing can be coupled to a section of a tubing string of a well system. A portion of the housing or a container disposed within the housing can store a dissolving material. A dissolving fluid that can dissolve or otherwise remove particulate material can be formed from the dissolving material. The fluid communication structure can communicate the dissolving fluid from the housing to a sand control device coupled to the section of the tubing string.

Abstract: A device is described for removal of a plug which is used in a well, a pipe, or the like for carrying out tests, and it is characterized by an element which, with an applied forced, is arranged to penetrate into the plug material so that this is crushed, said element is arranged to be supplied said force from an above lying element. The element (16) is preferably a ring (1) the lower end of which is arranged to be forced in a radial direction into the plug element at axial driving of a hydraulic pressure piston. Furthermore, the element is integrated into the plug.

Abstract: Method and system for use in a subsurface formation traversed by a wellbore. An energized fluid, which when subjected to a low pressure environment liberates or releases gas from solution, is disposed in the formation. Reduced pressure in a region of the wellbore below pressure in the surrounding formation liberates a gas in the energized fluid near a tunnel created in the formation.

Abstract: An underbalanced perforating system is disclosed for use in openhole completions to maximize the wellbore and matrix cleanup efficiency, to connect natural fracture patterns, and/or to enable application of new drilling fluid technology in difficult subsurface environments. The perforating system can be used for any hydrocarbon bearing formations with any lithology.

Abstract: A tubing string assembly for fluid treatment of a wellbore includes substantially pressure holding closures spaced along the tubing string, which each close at least one port through the tubing string wall. The closures are openable by a sleeve drivable through the tubing string inner bore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to increase the bonding forces of a hydraulic cement to a subterranean pipe (such as a casing) by the addition of at least one cementitious expansive agent to increase the bulk volume of the cement plug and a latex. The method of the invention includes positioning a platform in a downhole pipe below the desired cement plug interval, positioning a plug dump bailer tool comprising a tubular storing chamber for a cement slurry and a valve to discharge the cement slurry on and above the platform and discharging a cement slurry that comprises an expansive agent and a latex in quantities enough to increase the shear-bond between the downhole pipe and the cement plug. The invention allows a significant reduction of the height of the cement plug and therefore of the number of dump-bailer operations required for placing a plug.

Abstract: An apparatus and method includes positioning a string in a wellbore, the string having a surge chamber. A closure member is provided below the well surface, with the surge chamber defined at least in part by the closure member. At least one port to the chamber is opened to create a fluid surge into the surge chamber and a local low pressure condition in a wellbore region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a downhole cementing apparatus run into a borehole on a tubular. The apparatus is constructed on the pipe in such a way that pressure surge during run-in is reduced by allowing fluid to enter the pipe and utilize the fluid pathway of the cement. In one aspect of the invention, an inner member is provided that filters fluid as it enters the fluid pathway. In another aspect of the invention, various methods are provided within the cementing apparatus to loosen and displace sediment in the borehole prior to cementing.

Abstract: Method and composition for sealing a borehole. A chemically bonded phosphate ceramic sealant for sealing, stabilizing, or plugging boreholes is prepared by combining an oxide or hydroxide and a phosphate with water to form slurry. The slurry is introduced into the borehole where the seal, stabilization or plug is desired, and then allowed to set up to form the high strength, minimally porous sealant, which binds strongly to itself and to underground formations, steel and ceramics.

Abstract: A tool string for use in wellbore includes a sampler device having a port to receive pressure in an annulus region of the wellbore. An elevated pressure is communicated to a rupture disk assembly located in the port to rupture the rupture disk assembly. The elevated pressure is then communicated through a passageway to an activating mechanism of a sampler device. The activating mechanism is adapted to open a flow control device that controls flow through one or more ports of the sampler device. In another arrangement, the activating mechanism of the sampler device may include a pressure transducer for receiving pressure pulse signals. In response to pressure pulse signals of predetermined amplitude and pulse width, the pressure transducer may generate an activating signal to an actuator to operate the flow control device. Yet another arrangement includes a timer for activating the sampler device. The timer is actuatable by an elevated pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving reservoir communication includes, in one arrangement, use of one or more chambers to create an underbalance condition and/or a fluid surge in the wellbore. In another arrangement, a tool string comprises a packer, a circulating valve, and an atmospheric chamber, in which the circulating valve, when open, is adapted to vent a lower wellbore region below the packer when the packer is set, and the atmospheric chamber is capable of being operated to create an underbalance condition below the packer. In yet another arrangement, an apparatus comprises a subsea wellhead equipment including a blow-out preventer, choke line filled with a low density fluid, and a kill line filled with a heavy fluid. The choke line is adapted to be opened to create an underbalance condition in the wellbore.

Abstract: A gravel pack screen assembly adapted to produce fluids from two spaced apart zones of interest through gravel packing surrounding spaced apart gravel pack screens includes a sub interposed in the screen assembly between the two screens and having a reservoir for discharging a quantity of permeability reducing material into a layer of gravel packing intermediate the gravel packing surrounding each of the screens. The sub is operable to discharge the material into the gravel pack layer in response to movement of a washpipe or the like within the screen assembly to move an actuator member to cause a closure member to uncover ports in the sub in communication with the reservoir. The actuator member includes a transverse surface projecting into a central bore of the sub and operable to be engaged by deflectable collet fingers formed on a washpipe assembly or a similar member insertable within the gravel pack screen assembly to effect operation of the sub to discharge its permeability reducing material.

Abstract: A well fluid sampling apparatus provides a time delay after actuation of the tool and before a sample is taken. The tool is operated by well pressure acting on a piston. The piston is initially hydraulically blocked so that it cannot move. The time delay is provided after the piston begins moving. Additional time delay devices can optionally be included.

Abstract: A dump bailer is lowered on a wireline in a well through tubing for placing a cement slurry on a retainer located in the well. The dump bailer has a weight bar assembly that includes upper and lower sections that are extensible relative to each other. The upper weight bar section has an electrical contact that engages the electrical contact mounted in the upper end of the housing of the dump bailer. The lower section has a seal which separates the housing into upper and lower chambers. Cement is pumped in from the bottom, pushing the weight bar assembly upward until the contact on the upper weight bar section engages the upper contact. A detonator is located on the bottom of the lower weight bar section. Explosive force of the detonator transmits a shock wave through the cement slurry to expel a shear plug located on the bottom of the housing. The weight bar assembly pushes the cement from the slurry once this occurs.

Abstract: In the representative embodiments of the new and improved apparatus disclosed herein, a string of full-bore well tools are arranged to be suspended from a pipe string in a well bore penetrating an earth formation in flow communication with the well bore. A full-bore packer coupled to the pipe string is operated from the surface for isolating the well bore interval below the packer from the fluids in the well bore thereabove. To test the formation, a test valve coupled to the pipe string is selectively operated from the surface for opening the pipe string to the flow of formation fluids from the isolated well bore interval. Thereafter, when it is desired to obtain a sample of the formation fluids flowing in the pipe string, the new and improved full-bore sample-collecting apparatus coupled to the pipe string is selectively operated from the surface to admit the fluids in the pipe string into an annular sample chamber within the new and improved apparatus.

Abstract: Injector apparatus is disclosed which includes a sealed self-contained replaceable vessel containing an ejectable material to be injected into the well-bore during well logging operations. The vessel comprises a flexible-wall, collapsible tubular-like cartridge which can be removed from the mounting apparatus in the string of logging tools and replaced with a new cartridge. Motive force apparatus pressurizes the material in the cartridge and a valve device, which is actuated by a solenoid device, controls the flow of material exiting from the cartridge. Passageways and an orifice in the mounting apparatus directs the flow of material from the valve device to the well-bore.

Abstract: An arrangement for full hole drilling, wherein a drilling bit having a passage for drilling fluid is attached to a drill pipe string. A hole wall former is provided above the bit for closing the space between the hole walls and the drill pipe string. A container containing a plugging material is provided in the interior of the drill pipe string immediately above the bit, which is adapted to let drilling fluid between the walls of said container and said drill pipe string. The bit has an axial bore of a diameter which is greater than the inside diameter of the container and which is adapted to receive the lower end of said container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for sequentially treating two vertically separated zones in a well bore, utilizing a packer having a fluid passageway therethrough set between the zones, a pressure shearable plug at the lower end of the packer, and a retrievable fluid plug at the upper end of the packer. Once the packer, with the shear plug on its lower end, is set in the well bore between the two zones, the retrievable plug is placed in the upper end of the packer to isolate the shear plug from well pressure in the upper zone, and the desired treating steps are performed on the upper zone. The retrievable fluid plug is then removed and tubing run to the packer to establish communication with the shearable fluid plug. The shearable plug permits static pressure testing of the tubing string and seals before communication is established with the lower zone, and then may be removed by elevating fluid pressure to sufficiently shear the plug.

Abstract: A well, such as an oil well, may be plugged, on command, from the well head, by activating a plurality of preplaced motor-driven, foam generating capsules causing a foam to be generated and forced into the well hole where it hardens.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for determining the locus of a processing zone which advances through a fragmented permeable mass of particles in an in situ oil shale retort in a subterranean formation containing oil shale. The apparatus, which functions by releasing means for providing an indicator at a preselected temperature, comprises container means, means for providing an indicator in the container, and means for releasing the indicator providing means at a selected temperature greater than ambient.

Abstract: A sampling vessel, adpated particularly for use in geothermal bores, constructed principally of stainless steel and opened at depth without ancillary means such as messengers by causing an inertial mechanism to break a frangible seal.

Abstract: A standing valve wash-out tool comprises:A. a vertically elongated tubular body,B. elastomer cup means on the body to engage a well tubing bore as the body travels lengthwise within said bore in response to fluid pressure exertion on the cup means exteriorly of the body,C. the body having a fluid pressure inlet above the cup means, there being a frangible plug within the body blocking fluid pressure flow downwardly through the body, andD. a seat on the body proximate the lower end thereof and sized to land on sand containing means, whereby application of sufficient fluid pressure within the body will rupture said plug and pass downwardly through the body and outwardly below said seat to wash sand from said sand containing means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing offshore wells where variations in well annulus pressure are utilized to control the valving operation of a testing tool and entrap a formation sample.A confined body of pressurized fluid positoned in a testing string is utilized to predetermine the annulus pressure changes which will effect said valving and sample entrapping operations.